Barrel-catch for revolvers.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

E. L. DURHAM. BARREL CATCH FOR REVOLVBRS.

APPLIUATIONPILED SEPT. 24,1907.

7/iizemrem UNiED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

ERNEST L. DURHAM, OF DANVILLE, VIRGINIA.

BARREL-CATCH FOR REVOLVERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEsT L. DURHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danville, in the county of Pittsylvania and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Barrel- Catches for Revolvers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in revolvers of the type whereln the barrel is mounted one section that is pivoted relatively to the frame for the purpose of permitting loading and ejection of the empty shells; and it has for its object to provide an improved catch for locking thebarrel section in fixed relation to the frame whereby any looseness between the parts may be compensated for or taken up so that registration of the shells or cartridges relatively to the firing pin or hammer is insured, even though the joint or pivotal connection between the sections is considerably worn.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a revolver provided with a barrel catch constructed in accordance with the present invention, the barrel section being shown tilted into open position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the revolver showing the barrel catch in section and in locked position.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

A barrel catch constructed in accordance with my present invention is capable of application to revolvers and similar fire-arms of the general class wherein the barrel is tiltable or capable of an opening and closing movement relatively to the handle or main portion thereof, and in the present instance it is shown in connection with a revolver of a well known form embodying a main frame 1 provided with a handle 2 and carrying a hammer 3 which is controlled by the usual trigger 4, a forward extension 5 of the frame being provided with hinge-lugs 6 which cooperate with corresponding hinge-lugs 7 carried by the barrel section 8, the latter being thereby mounted to turn relatively to the main frame and thereby render the cylinder Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 24, 1907.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Serial No. 394,383.

wardly over the cylinder, the catch shown in the present instance embodying a dog 11 of known form, consisting of an arm 12 attached to the barrel strap by a pivot-pin 13 which permits it to swing vertically; and it has a cross-piece 14 which is adapted to' swing into and out of cooperative relation with a air of catch posts 16 which extend upward y from the main frame 1 of the revolver. The ends of the cross-piece are checkered as at 17 in order to afford a grasp for the fingers in unlocking the catch, and the locking of the latter is accomplished automatically by means of a spring 18, the movement of the catch toward locking position being limited by projections 19 formed on the rear of the barrel strap.

After a revolver has been in use for some time, the oint or hinge connection between the main frame and the barrel section loosens by reason of wear of the parts and the shock due to firing, and when the revolver is in that condition, and barrel catches of the ordinary form are used, the play or lost mo tion between the parts tends to destroy the registration or alinement between the cartridges and the firing-pin or hammer, and such a defect is a serious objection for the reason that the firing-pin or hammer may not strike fairly the percussion cap or fuse portion of the cartridge and thereby cause a misfire. According to the present inven tion, this lost motion or play, due to wear, firing and other causes, is compensated for so that the barrel catch is capable of firmly locking the parts to insure' the requisite registration or alinement of the cartridges and the firing mechanism. This result is accomplished in the present instance by pro viding one or more adjustable stops on the catch post or posts which cooperate with the dog of the catch, a pair of set-screws 20 being shown in the present form of the invention which are threaded into openings eX- tending forwardly from the rear or looking faces of the posts, and these stops or setscrews are adapted to cooperate with the locking faces of the cross-piece or looking portion of the dog 11. Obviously, by adjusting these screws axially, it is possible to obtain an accurate locking engagement between them and the dog that will prevent relative movement of the barrel and cylinder either longitudinally or in a direction transversely of the firing mechanism, and, moreover, accidental unlocking of the catch is prevented.

It will be understood, of course, that while a pair of adjustable stops is used, the invention is not so limited, as a single stop may be employed if so desired. An especial advantage is obtained, however, by employing a pair of independently adjustable compensating screws that are inserted in the locking faces of the respective catch posts and engage the opposite ends of the laterally extending cross piece 14 of the dog, for the reason that the two screws may then be adjusted so as to secure an even distribution of the strain between the respective catch posts and the ends of the cross piece of the dog, and when the screws are properly adjusted, the dog is properly centered between the posts and thus avoids any binding action that might otherwise occur. It will be understood also that the construction and arrangement of the adjustable or compensating stop or stops may be varied according to the construction of the catch in connection with which they are used, as I contemplate using the compensating means in connection with barrel catches of various types for the purpose of insuring rigidity and a correct relation between the barrel and cylinder and the main frame carrying the firing devices in order to insure proper registration between the firing devices and the cartridges and to prevent accidental unlocking of the catch.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fire arm com rising relatively pivoted barrel and main rame sections, a barrel catch embodying a locking dog pivoted on one of said parts, and provided with a cross piece projecting laterally from opposite sides of the dog, a pair of catch posts on the other part, and means to compensate for looseness etween the dog and posts comprising a pair of laterally spaced screws inserted in the said posts and having heads arranged to directly engage the respective laterally extending ends of the said cross piece, said screws being adjustable independently of one another in a direction substantially axially of the barrel when the latter is in locked position.

2. A fire arm comprising relatively pivoted barrel and main frame sections, a barrel catch comprising a dog pivoted on a fixed transverse axis on the barrel and provided with a cross piece projecting laterally from the opposite sides of the dog, a pair of catch posts fixed on the main frame, a pair of compensating screws inserted in the locking faces of the respective posts and adjustable independently of one another, portions of said screws having direct locking engagement with the opposite ends of said cross piece and serving to evenly distribute the strain between the latter and the respective catch posts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ERNEST L. DURHAM.

Witnesses:

P. P. BOOTH, E. N. OAKES. 

